Faith Daily | 5 August 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p568

Almighty God,

whose beloved Son for our sake

willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross:

give us courage and patience

to take up our cross daily and follow him;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 16: 24-28

24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Meredith Nicolls

Jesus never promised that discipleship would be easy. He explains earlier to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem where he will suffer and be killed (v21) and he then proceeds to tell his disciples that they must follow a path of suffering also.

This must have been very sobering for them. It is a difficult and painful thing to bear up with another in their suffering knowing that you too may also find yourself on the same path. I wonder if some of the disciples backed away at this point? A very human reaction for self -preservation and security. Jesus was subsequently abandoned by them on his arrest and throughout his trial.

But the reward for walking the way with Jesus, wherever that will lead, is rich indeed. Jesus will come again in glory to reward the faithful. The transfiguration follows this discourse and I believe that Peter, James and John experienced a transformation there that would enable them to give their all for their Lord.

The day of Pentecost was also to come empowering and gracing them all with courage through the Holy Spirit.

FINAL PRAYER - Ignatius Loyola

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.

Amen.